She continued tracking the car across the city, but the result was nothing. Guen's car never appeared on any roadway cameras.
If this were merely an act of revenge, Two-Face would not have needed to go to such lengths. Killing him in the car and leaving immediately would have been enough. There were plenty of locations tied to the number two near the nightclub. There was no need to transport the body so far.
That would also have made it harder to immediately trace the crime back to him.
Yet Two-Face still chose to act in such a convoluted way, and those actions, rather than helping him stay hidden, made it obvious at a glance who the killer was.
It was as if Two-Face were deliberately trying to draw someone's attention.
"Besides us, there shouldn't be any other possibility. After all, half the criminals in Gotham would love to see us dead."
Oracle understood Two-Face's intentions. She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing at the looping footage of the empty street.
The deliberate staging, the number two, the public display. This was a message. And she had a very good idea who it was meant for.
She immediately contacted Robin.
"Tim, there's new information on Two-Face…..."
...
In an ordinary residence in Gotham's eastern district, a short-haired woman wearing blue jeans, a white shirt, and a light leather jacket opened her front door.
Before the door was even fully open, her expression changed.
An uninvited guest was sitting on her living room sofa, quietly watching her.
The horrifying burn scars on his face revealed his identity.
Two-Face.
Even someone with no knowledge of his crimes would instinctively feel fear upon seeing that face.
But the short-haired woman showed no fear at all, instead fixing Two-Face with a cold stare.
"I don't recall inviting you into my home, Harvey."
"I'm not here as a guest, Selina." Two-Face replied.
"Well, you are not welcome here."
Selina opened the door fully, clearly inviting him to leave.
"Don't be so cold. Aren't we old friends? I came this time because I want to commission you for a job."
Two-Face stood up from the sofa and stated his purpose.
"You know I've retired."
Selina refused flatly.
"Because of Batman? I didn't expect the money-grabbing Catwoman to turn into a house cat."
"No. Because of myself."
Selina denied it without hesitation.
"I don't care. Are you sure you don't want to hear what I'm asking you to do? It should be very easy for you."
Two-Face pressed.
"I said I've retired. Even if you asked me to steal a blade of grass from a garden, I wouldn't do it."
"Then what if I told you that this time I'm not asking you to steal something, but to protect something?"
At those words, Selina raised an eyebrow.
"Protecting something? You?"
Seeing her interest sparked, Two-Face continued. "There's another thief planning to steal something from me. I have important matters to handle right now and no time to deal with him, but I also won't allow anyone to take what belongs to me."
"Oh?"
"More importantly, I can't let this thief interfere with my plans, so I need someone to handle him."
At that, realization dawned on Selina.
"Hmm, I remember now. It's that Kaitou Kid, isn't it? I heard a while ago that he set his sights on you this time. Looks like the rumors were true."
"To deal with a skilled thief, the best approach is to find an even better one."
Two-Face looked at Selina. "In the world of theft, you're the undisputed expert."
"So you came to me to deal with Kaitou Kid? Sorry, I don't kill people either."
"I only need you to delay him and make sure he doesn't get the chance to disrupt my plans. As for whether Kaitou Kid lives or dies, I don't care."
"…"
Selina considered it for a moment before speaking. "What's the price?"
"As usual."
"Deal."
Selina accepted Two-Face's commission.
Sorry, Bats. I know you don't want me mixing with old acquaintances anymore, but I still have to live. I know you're rich, but I'd rather rely on myself than ask a man for money.
Anyway, I'm not stealing, robbing, or hurting anyone, so this should be fine.
If you object, say so now while there's still time to talk me out of it.
If you stay silent, I'll take it as your tacit consent.
Good. Then it's settled.
I'll do this one last job.
Just this once. Never again.
...
That night, atop a building in downtown Gotham, Robin waited on the edge of the rooftop.
The earpiece he wore kept him in constant contact with Oracle.
Inside the Clock Tower, Oracle stared intently at the surveillance monitors.
The screens displayed seven different locations, including luxury villas, corporate offices, and City Hall.
Not long ago, Oracle had carefully reviewed all of Maroni's files in the Batcomputer and compiled a list of potential targets for Two-Face.
After excluding those who were already dead or no longer in Gotham, seven candidates remained.
One of them still held an important position at City Hall.
"The GCPD has already deployed officers to stake out six of the locations. No one has reached the seventh yet. It looks like they didn't find the last one."
Oracle spoke while watching the live surveillance feeds.
"That's perfect. I'll go keep an eye on that side."
Robin offered.
"Mm. The seventh location is Strade Pharmaceutical Company. The person you need to watch is their R&D director, Hollis. If he comes out, follow him unless I tell you to disengage."
"Understood."
Robin dropped to the ground with his grapnel and tapped a few buttons on his gauntlet. A sleek Batcycle automatically pulled up.
He mounted it and sped toward the location Oracle had given him.
In less than ten minutes, he arrived at Strade Pharmaceutical Company.
He picked a vantage point with a clear line of sight and began the tense stakeout.
...
Meanwhile, inside the neglected ACE Chemical Plant.
Including the Red and Blue Twin Brothers from before, more than thirty subordinates stood assembled before Two-Face.
Though their numbers were not large, every one of them had been carefully chosen.
They were either twins like the Red and Blue brothers, or matched in pairs of tall and short, fat and thin, male and female. In short, they were all combinations of two.
Behind them stood another group, thirteen people in total. Terror filled their faces. It was obvious they had not come here of their own will.
"Now, the court is in session. The judge and a jury of twelve are present. The prosecutor is ready to indict at any moment. All that remains is for the sinner to take the defendant's seat."
Two-Face spread his arms, a twisted smile creeping across his face.
"Go, my police force. It's time to arrest the sinner who has been at large for so long."
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